Machine for making sanitary napkins



Ian. 24, 1939. o E. HAGEN 2,145,048

MACHINE FOR MAKING SANITARY NAPKINS Fild Sept. 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jam 24, 1939. o. E. HAGEN V MACHINE FOR MAKING SANITARY NAPKIN$ Filed Sept. 10, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .gzni

'JaQn.-24, 1939. o. E. HAGEN 2,145,043

MACHINE FOR MAKING SANITARY NAPKINS Filed se plo, 1936. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES 2.145.048 MACHINE Fon MAKING SANITARY NAPKINS 0scar-E. Hagen, Neenah, Wis., assignor to'International Cellucotton Products Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofDelaware Application September 10, 1936, Serial No. 100,132

14 Claims. (Cl. 154-29) This invention relates to improvements in machines ior making sanitary napkins and it has particular reference to improved mechanism for forming absorbent padbodies which form the bulk of the napkins.

The main object of the invention is to provide mechanism which will be operative to produce the pad bodies swiftly and quietly with a minimum of attention from an operator or at tendant.

Sanitary napkin machinery of the general type here involved is disclosed in the patents to Bauer No. 1,794,358 and Thompson No. 1,869,177. The said patents disclose various forms of padiorming mechanism embodying reciprocating apparatus for cutting pads from a strip of wadding. The pads so out are then fed to mechanism for enfoldingthe pads in a gauze wrapper. From such wrapping mechanism the pads may be fed to mechanism'fo'r foldingend extensions or tabs of the gauze wrapper over the body of the wrapped pad and then to mechanism for inserting the present invention, rotary pad cutting mechanism is provided which maybe operated considerably faster than reciprocating mechanism oftheftype heretofore used.

Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (four sheets) wherein there is illustrated a rotary pad forming mechanism embodying a selected form of the invention. A

v In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation.

Fig. 2 is an end. elevation of the right hand end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-8 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged elevations respectively of portions of the mechanism shown on a smaller scale in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig.3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is, shown in Fig. 1 a supply roll in of absorbent wedding the patent material which is fed forwardly continuously by means of a suitably propelled conveyor H. The illustration of the supply roll supporting means and conveyor supporting means is more or less which are provided with cooperating cutting devices for cutting the absorbent wadding strip into separate absorbent pads of suitable shape and dimensions.

As indicated in 2 and 3, the upper andlower rolls l2and l3 respectively are journaled in side frames designated I4 and I5. Suitable bear- .ings and connections are provided for insuring free but synchronized rotation of the rolls and adjusting means is also provided for maintaining the rolls in proper cooperative relationship.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the upper roll l2 comprises a main body l6 having an axial bore l'lv extending therethrough. At its ends the main body l6 of the roll is provided withreduced diameter portions indicated at l8 and l9 The reduced diameter portion I8 is provided for receiving a ball or roller bearing structure 20, the outer race 2| of which is seated in a housing'22 which is'mounted in the frame l4 between the legs I4 and I4 thereof for sliding adjustment. The i ner race 23 of the anti-friction bearing struct e 20 is seated on the reduced portion I8 of the shaft through the agency of a collar 26 having aconical outer surface which fits a corresponding inner surface of the race 23. A nut 25 threadingly engaging the shaft portion i8 is provided for forcing the conical collar or sleeve '24 inwardly for the purpose of expanding the "bearing race 23 to take up any possible looseness in the bearing. A locking washer 26 is provided for locking the nut 25 in set position to prevent accidental loosening of the nut. A cap 2! is se cured over the outer end of the housing 22 to close that end of -the bearing against dirt and dust and ture 29 which is journaled through the agency of to retain lubricant within the housing. A seal a bearing structure 26 similar to that above described within a housing structure 22. The housing 22 of the lower roll is also slidably mounted in the frame |4 between its arms, but is normally positioned against a bottom stop 36 provided near the bottom ends of the arms l4"- and i4, as indicated in Fig. 1.

Inasmuch as it is desirable to accurately maintain a predetermined relation between the upper downwardly by means of a set screw 32 which is carried by a cross member 33 which is rigidly secured to the upper ends of the frame arms I4 and l4 (see Fig. 1).

It will of course be understood that both, ends of the respective rolls l2 and I3 are similarly journaled in the side frames l4 and I respectively.

The upper roll is equipped with a series of female die units which, when assembled, provide in the arrangement shown, a series of twelve female dies respectively adapted to cooperate with corresponding male die members carried by the lower roll.

The female die structure of the upper roll is best shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and '7. Referring particularly to the said figures, it will be observed that the main body 6 of the upper roll'is provided with a circumferential enlargement 34 which at its outer end is provided with oppositely directed flanges 35, 35. The outer surface of the flanges 35, 35 and the intermediate portion of the enlargement 34 are machined to provide a series of twelve substantially flat faces designated 36. On the end portions of each of the flat faces 36 there are mounted presser blocks designated 31,

which may be provided with raised or embossed letters suchas indicated at 38, for impressing a trade-mark or the like on the pads produced by the mechanism. The presser blocks 31, 31 may be secured in any conventional manner, for

example, by means of screws indicated at 39,

which extend outwardly through the flanges 35 and threadedly engage suitably tapped openings provided in the presser blocks. Female die members disposed outwardly of the presser blocks 31 embody foundation members 40 and cutting plate elements 4|. It is preferable to form the said female die parts in such a manner that each unit embodies a die portion for one-half of one of the flat surfaces of the roll body and a die portion of one-half of the adjacent flat surface. As clearly shown in Fig. 7, the member 40 straddles the ridge between adjacent flat surfaces and extends halfway over the width of the respectively adjacent surfaces. 'By inspection of Fig. 5, it will be seen that adjacent die members 4|, 4| come together as indicated at 42 substantially centrally of a flat face 36. The inside edges of the cutting members 4| are so shaped that the adjacent edges 43 of adjacent die members cooperate to form a slightly pointed but generally semi-circular shape. As also shown in Fig. '7, the members 40 may conveniently be secured in place by such means as screws 44 which extend outwardly through the flanges 35 and engage suitably tapped openings provided in the members 46. The cutting plate elements 4| may conveniently be secured in place by such means as screws 46 extending inwardly through the plate elements and threadedly engaging suitably tapped openings provided in the foundation blocks 40.

Intermediate the end die members there are provided anvil bars designated 46,'such bars being of suitably hardened metal and being recessed as indicated at 41 into the body of the roll. It will be apparent by inspection of Fig. 4 that the anvil bars 46 are aligned with the ridges intermediate the respective flat surfaces 36, 36. Also, as indicated in Fig. 5, the anvil bars 46 terminate with their ends abutting end portions 48 of the female die elements 4|. As shown in Fig. 4, the anvil surfaces 49 of the bars 46 are positioned slightly below or inwardly of the surfaces of the die members 4|.

The lower roll l3 has a central" annular enlargement 48 which has its periphery machined to provide 12 flat faces 43 respectively provided with a centrally disposed recessed seat 50. Said recessed seat 56 extends longitudinally of the roll as best indicatedin Figs. 3, 4 and 7.

Foundation blocks such as indicated at 5| are mounted on each of the flat faces 49, each of the blocks being provided with a tongue 52 on its bottom adapted to fit in the recessed seat 50 of the roll. The foundation blocks 5| may be securely locked in operative position by means such as screws 53, which extend through suitable holes inthe blocks and threadedly engage properly tapped openings in the portion 48 of. the roll. Each end of each foundation block 5| is provided with a cutting plate member 54, the outer ends of said plates being shaped to correspond with the shape of the pointed, substantially semicircular female die formation above explained.

The die plates 54 may be fastened in place by any conventional means such as screws 55, as

indicated.

For cooperating with the anvil bars 46 of the female die roll, the male die roll is'provided with cutter bars designated 56, said cutter bars being adjustably supported and locked in place by means of wedge blocks As best shown in Fig. 4, the cutting bars 56 are positioned against one side face 51 of a groove which extends longi tudinally of the roll. The groove is of course formed between adjacent faces of adjacent foundation blocks 5|, being mainly formed in the side of one of the blocks. A wedge block or strip 56 is positioned'between the face 59 of the cutting bar and the other face 60 of the groove referred to. Screws such as indicated at 6| are provided for forcing the wedge strips downwardly into the groove which, as indicated, is tapered in cross section to a reduced width adjacent its bottom. Hence, when the wedge strip is forced downwardly, the cutting bar or knife 56 is securely clamped against the face 51 formed onthe ad-' jacent foundation block 5|. In the bottom of the groove formed in each foundation block there is an auxiliary narrow groove 62 which is designed to receive the lower marginal portion of the cutting bar below the normal bottom of the main groove.

For adjustably supporting the knives, there is provided a plurality, in this instance three, members 63 which are slidable transversely of the knife in recesses or pockets 64 formed in adjacent portions of adjacent foundation blocks,

part of such pocket being formed in each block. Adjusting screws 65 which extend through suitable openings in the foundation bar or block 5| and threadedly engage properly tapped openings 56 are correspondingly wedged or cammed outwardly. By this arrangement the extent to which the cutting edges of theknives project from the roll may be very accurately adjusted and securely maintained.v As shown in Fig. 6, the knives extend from end to end and terminate in such relation that their end edges will cooperate with the narrow flat ends 68 of the female die members for cutting purposes, as will presently ap-- pear. Also, it will of course be understood, especially by an inspection of Fig. 4, that the sharpened edges designated 61 abut. the anvil barsurfaces 49 for cutting purposes. As indicated, the cutting edges 61 of the knives are formed by surfaces disposed at a substantial angle to each other so that the cutting edge is adequately backed by the metal of the .knife, whereby sharpness may easily be maintained for considerable periods of time during which the mechanism is employed.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that a supply strip of wedding from the roll i is fed a 'iary feed belt 68, suitably driven at-the same forw rdly continuously by the conveyor ll. An surf ce speed as the conveyor ll, maybe provided for more effectively delivering the web of wedding into the .bite of the cooperating rolls. The cooperating rolls l2 and 13 may conveniently be driven from any suitable source of power by means of gear connections such as indicated in Fig. 2, where the shaft indicated at 69 may be assumed to be any driven shaft from which power may conveniently be taken off for the drive of the cooperating cutter rolls. Gearing indicated at 70 may connect the source of power 69 with agear ll carried by the shaft of the lower roll l3. Gearing designated 72 may be provided on the ends of the shafts of the rolls [2 and I3 on the other side of the machine for effecting simultaneous synchronized rotation of the upper and lower rolls. One of the gears 12 is preferably formed of two sections so that one section may be fanned relative to the other to take up any slack which may otherwise exist in the meshing of the teeth of the gears. By this means accuracy in the synchronization of the two rollers is readily obtained.

It will be apparent that when the wadding strip Ill is fed between the driven male and female die rolls l2 and 13 the wadding strip will be severed or divided into. relatively independent pad bodies corresponding in shape to the outline formed by opposed male die ends and connecting knives 56, 56.

A receiving support designated 13 for receiving the pads thus formed, such table being preferably in the form of a pluralityof relatively spaced fiat bars. For propelling the pads delivered to the supporting table 13 away from the areain which they are deposited, a con veyor such as indicated at I4 may be provided, such conveyor being equipped with pushers l5 designed to extend upwardly between adjacent bars forming the table 13 t'o engage the rearmost edges of the pad bodies.

From an inspection of Fig. 4 it will be evident that the pad body designated It, which is illustrated in the positionofhaving 'just been deposited on the support l3, wil1 be advanced a slight is provided distance forwardly by continued engagement of the from, face of the anvil bar 46 and then by the pusher 15. The conveyor I4 is driven at such a speed that it will advance the deposited .pad body I6 with suflicient rapidity to clear the receiving area of the support 13 in time to receive the next formed'pad body. Also, the speed of the conveyor I4 is preferably such that the pad bodies will be separated a distance which will deliver them in properly spaced relation to means for depositing them on a moving gauze strip in properly spaced relation. Such depositing means is disclosed in the Bauer and Thompson patents above mentioned.

For insuring deposition of the pad bodies on the receiving table '73, and for insuring their disengagement from the recess of the femaledie roll, plunger'mechanism such as best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 is provided.

A stationary cam shaft 'i'i extends through the bore ll of the upper roll i2. Saidstationary cam shaft is anchored in fixed position by means of lock nuts such as indicated at E8, which clamp the ends of therod in the cap members 21 of the bearing housings. The cam shaft 'li is provided with.cams designated 79 which are adapted to engage the inner ends of plungers such as 8B which are mounted for radial movement in'the upper roll member. Each plunger 80 is'provided with a head 8! which is normally received within a recess-82 provided in a fitting 8.3 which is recessed into the roll'and secured therein by screws clearly shown in Fig. 3. The plunger 80 is slidably supported in said fitting 83 and in suitable bores provided in the roll and a coil spring 84 disposed between the inner end of the fitting 83 and a collar or the like 85 provided on the plunger normally urges the plunger to its inwardly disposed position with its head 8! disposed substantially fiush with the bottom surface 36 of the female die structure. As each female die portion reaches the position in which the pad body should be discharged, the plunger is forced outwardly by the cam element 79 (see Fig. 4) with the result that the plunger 81 forces out the pad body if it has, not already begun to fall out.

To secure accurately mating male and female die members, it is preferable that the upper die plates be formed of hardened steel while the lower'dieplates are somewhat softer. The rolls may be rotated when properly assembled to produce the cutting edges, the hardened upper die As indicated best in Fig. 'L'the compressive action of the presser blocks I 31 will be exerted against the surfaces of the male die plates 54.

A substantial pressure is exerted, the pressure being sufficient to produce compressed ends on the pad bodies substantially as explained in the patent to Gloms tead fio. 1,857,854, May 10, 1932.

The waste material resulting from the rounded end formations may be removed from the machine by suitably positioning vacuum conveyors or suction tubes adjacent the ends of the receiving area of the support 13.

The described construction provides a fast and anvil bars between adjacent faces, and the other roll having on its circumference knives cooperating with said bars to sever a wadding strip passing between said rolls into napkin units.

2. In a machine of the character described, a pair of continuously rotating rolls, the circumference of one of said rolls having a plurality of parallel fiat faces extending lengthwise thereof and anvil bars between adjacent faces, and the other roll having on its circumference knives cooperating with said bars to sever a wadding strip passing between said rolls into napkin units; said rolls also having cooperating male and female die means'for cutting the ends of said units to a predetermined shape.

3. In a machine of the character described, a pair of oppositely rotating rolls, the circumference of one of said rolls having a plurality of flat faces extending lengthwise thereof, anvil bars between adjacent faces, and cutting plates opposite the ends of said bars, and the other roll having on its circumference knives cooperating with said bars to sever a wadding strip passing between said rolls into napkin units and cutting plates cooperating with said first-named cutting plates to trim the ends of said units to a predetermined shape.

4. In a machine ofv the character described, a pair of oppositely rotating rolls, the circumference of one of said rolls having'a plurality of flat faces extending lengthwise thereof, anvil bars between adjacent faces, and cutting plates opposite the ends of said bars, and the other roll having on its circumference knives cooperating with said bars to sever a wadding strip passing between said rolls into napkin units and cutting plates cooperating with said first-named cutting plates to trim the ends of said units'to a predetermined shape;

the cutting edges of said platesconforming to the curvature of the circumferences of their respective rolls, whereby they have a shearing action on the ends of said units;

5. In a machine of the character described, a pair of oppositely rotating rolls, the circumference of one of said rolls having a plurality of flat faces extending lengthwise thereof, cooperating outing elements on said rolls for severing a wadding strip passing between them into napkin units, female cutter dies on the ends of said faces,

and male cutter dies on the other. roll cooperating with said female dies to trim the ends of said units to a predetermined shape.

, 6. In a machine of the character described," a pair of oppositely rotating rolls, the circumference of one of said rolls having a plurality of'flat faces extending lengthwise thereof, anvil bars between and projecting radially beyond said faces, said faces and bars forming recesses. to receive the pads cut from a strip of absorbent waddin passing between said rolls, the other roll having knives cooperating with said anvil bars to sever said strip into said pads and presser blocks in the recesses formed by said faces and bars and located on the end portions of said faces for cooperating with complementary portions of the other roll to compact the end portions of said pads.

'7. In a machine of the character described, oppositely rotating male and femalerolls for cutting and shaping napkin units from a strip of absorbent wadding passing between them, the circumference of the female roll having a plurality of flat faces extending lengthwise thereof, anvil bars between and projecting radially beyond said faces, said faces and bars forming recesses to seat pads cut from said strip of wadding, and the male roll having on its circumference knives cooperating with said anvil bars to sever said strip into pads; and automatic means for ejecting said pads from said recesses as they pass beyond the nip of said rolls.

8. In a machine of the character described, oppositely rotating male and female rolls for cutting and shaping napkin units from a strip of absorbent wadding passing between them, the circumference of the female roll having a plurality of flat faces extending lengthwise thereof, anvil bars between and projecting radially beyond said faces, said faces and bars forming recesses to seat pads cut from said strip of wadding, and the male roll having on its circumference knives cooperating with said anvil bars to sever said strip into pads; and automatic means for ejecting said pads from said recesses as they pass beyondthe nip of said rolls; said automatic pad ejecting means comprising a stationary shaftv coaxial with said female roll, a cam on said shaft, and springretracted radial plungers in said female roll adapted to be forced outwardly by said cam.

9. In a machine of the'character described, a pair of oppositely rotating rolls for cutting a strip of absorbent wadding passing between them into sanitary napkin pads, the circumference of one of said rolls having spaced anvil bars extending parallel with its axis, and the circumference of the other roll having correspondingly spaced grooves, cutter blades seated in said grooves, wedge blocks and adiusting screws for clamping said blades securely in said grooves, and wedge blocks and adjusting screws for adjusting said blades outwardly. v

10. In a machine for making sanitary napkin pads from a continuous strip of absorbent wadding, a pair of cooperating rotary rolls between which said strip is fed, said rolls being axially parallel to each other but being offset horizontally and having cooperating means for cutting said strip into individual napkin units, means for guiding said wadding strip to the uppermost surface portion of the lower ro1l,'said means being disposed at an obtuse angle to an upper-roll-radial line directed toward the center of the lower roll, thereby to facilitate entrance of the wadding strip between said rolls, and pad-receiving means juxtaposed with thelower surface of the upper roll andat a lower elevation'than said wadding guiding means.

11. In a machine of the character described, a

pair of continuously rotating rolls, thecircumference of one of said rolls having a plurality of parallel flat faces extending lengthwise thereof, said rolls having cooperating anvil bars and knives disposed intermediate adjacent sides of said flat faces, said anvil bars and knives serving to sever a wadding strip passing between said rolls into sanitary napkin pad units.

12. In a machine for making sanitary napkins from a continuous strip of absorbent wadding, a

pair of cooperating rotary rolls between which said strip is fed, said rolls being axially parallel to each other but being offset transversely horizontally relative to each other and having cooperating means for cutting said strip into indiv dual napkin units, one. of said rolls having reoessed areas for receiving the thickness of said wadding as an incident to the cutting operation,

said offset arrangement serving to facilitate entrance of the wadding between said rolls and to permit substantially simultaneous engagement of the'top and bottom surfaces of the wadding by the cooperating cutting means.

13. In a machine for making sanitary napkins from a continuous strip of absorbent wadding, a

pair of cooperating rotary rolls between which.

radial depth so as to form napkin unit receiving recesses intermediate adjacent cutting devices, and said roll being provided with means located in said recesses i'or cooperating with complementary portions of the other roll to compact portions oi said napkin units positioned in said recesses.

14. In a machine for making sanitary napkins from a continuous strip of absorbent wadding, the combination with means for continuously feeding said strip, of a pair of cooperating rolls between which said strip is fed, said rolls having cooperating pressure cutting means for slitting said strip at intervalscorresponding to the width or the individual napkin units to-be formed, and cooperating punch and die means for cutting the strip so as to substantially connect the ends of adiacent slits to completethe separation of the respective napkin unit widths from said strip and incidentally to cut the unit ends to a predetermined shape.

' OSCAR E. 'HAGEN. 

